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Although Christianity is still a major religious force, there are growing numbers of people in other faiths, including the various Pagan traditions. Some Christians have responded to this trend with fear and derision, while some Pagans have reacted to that fear with anger and mistrust. Much of the problem is due to misunderstandings and lack of communication. This can change with Gus diZerega's Pagans & Christians. Here you will find a penetrating and illuminating comparison, showing that neither path has the single correct approach to the Divine. Rather, either or both can be authentic and legitimate expressions of the appreciation of the Ultimate Source of All. Pagans & Christians is an ideal way to help bridge what at time seems a wide chasm between Christian and Pagan beliefs. By sharing core ideas of both paths, this book provides a way to give deeper mutual understanding and unity among the religions of the world. Although Pagans & Christians accepts both paths as valid, the book provides a more in-depth explanation of Paganism รณ the minority religion because in some ways, Paganism demands a greater defense and explanation of its beliefs and ideas to dispel misunderstandings. The author is a Third Degree Gardenerian Elder and in Pagans & Christians has presented nothing less than a brilliant defense of Paganism, clearly showing how it should stand beside all of the major religions of the world as an equal. As part of this defense, diZerega gives a listing of biblical contradictions and Christian philosophical difficulties which can help any Pagan responding to a negative attack, and will help any Christian to view his or her religion as a way, not the way. Winner of the 2001 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) Award for Best Non-fiction Book… (more)
User reviews
Many Practitioners of the Occult tend to favor 'Paganism', a religion of many Gods and Goddesses, especially Nature. However, there are a few who are also Christians, who also favor Nature and its 'occult' mysteries. Our popular culture teaches us that these two religious paths
In this book, Dr. DiZerega explores both the Pagan and Christian philosophies, history and "Mutual" relationship. He then explains criticisms by Pagans of Christians and vice versa. He doesn't dispute these criticisms, but elaborates on them for deeper understanding, to show that they are actually without merit. In the conclusion, he actually shows that the pagan beliefs and respect for the natural world are already present within Christian scripture, making paganism compatible with Christianity.
This book offers scholarly and civil discussion from both points of view, Christian and Pagan, to enable interfaith dialogue for better understanding of the two paths. He dispels criticisms and misconceptions while trying to bridge the gap between the two. Paganism is not the evil society tells us, but has its roots in similar beliefs by Christians. This book is a 'must-read' for anyone, be they Pagan or Christian, to understand the other through coherent and resourceful interfaith dialogue. The merits of Interfaith understanding are critical to those that study the often 'misunderstood' magical arts, to better enable them a solid incorporation of their practice into their own religion and relationships to other practitioners. This book helps bridge this gap.